Flood inundates 16,000 hectares of croplands

Over 16,000 hectares of crops in eight districts have been damaged by floods in the country’s north-northwestern region. A total of 18 chars in Natore’s Lalpur upazila were also submerged as river Padma continued to swell. According to the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC), the situation may deteriorate further in nine districts, as the waters of the Ganges, Padma, Gorai and the Meghna are flowing above their danger levels at four points.

Thousands of people have been marooned in Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainababganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Kushtia, Magura, Rajbari, Faridpur, Munshiganj and Manikganj districts. To make matters worse, river erosion has increased in Shariatpur, Rajbari, Munshiganj and Chapainababganj districts.

Ferry movement on the Shimulia-Kathalbari and Paturia-Daulatdia routes has been severely hampered due to strong currents of the mighty Padma.

The floodwaters have submerged 12,279 hectares of mashkalai (lentil), 1,710 hectares of vegetables, 1,181 hectares of trans-planted Amon paddy, 157 hectares of spices, 25 hectares of nuts, 783 hectares of fruit

gardens and 96 hectares of sugarcane in Rajshahi,

Natore, Chapainababganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Kushtia, Rajbari and Manikganj districts, Mizanur Rahman, deputy director (monitoring) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told The Independent yesterday (Thursday).

“A total of 16,231 hectares of crops have been submerged in floodwaters as of Wednesday. We are yet to get details of the damage as new areas are being flooded everyday. So, the damage could be much more,” he said.

Field-level DAE officials are analysing the damage to crops and sending reports to the headquarters everyday, he added.

“The flood situation in the low-lying areas of Pabna, Kushtia, Magura, Rajbari, Manikganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Munshiganj districts will further deteriorate. But the Ganges and Padma may remain steady in the next 24 hours,” Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, FFWC executive engineer, told this correspondent.

He said the Ganges is flowing eight centimetres above the danger level at the Hardinge Bridge point, the Padma 13cm at the Goalundo point, Gorai 25cm at the Kamarkhali point and the Meghna 10cm above the danger mark at the Chandpur point.

Ferry movement has been hampered due to strong currents, and ghats 1 and 2 have been closed, Abu Abdullah Rony, terminal manger (commercial) of the BIWTC at the Daulatdia ferry terminal, told this correspondent.

“River erosion has taken a serious turn in terminal areas due to strong currents. The Bangladesh Water Development Board is working to prevent erosion in terminal areas,” he said.

Flood-affected people have alleged that they are yet to get any relief from the local administration of Rajbari, though they remain marooned for almost a week.

The Rajbari district Deputy Commissioner, Dilshad Begum, said at least 4,000 families have been marooned in the district. “We are preparing a list of flood-affected people. GR rice will be distributed among them after the list is completed. Besides, enough dry food has been stocked,” she said in reply to a query.

WDB officials are working to protect educational institutions and other structures from erosion, she added.  At least nine government primary schools in Rajbari district have already been closed due to floodwaters. Pabna WDB executive engineer KM Jahurul Huq said the water level at the Hardinge Bridge point has been increasing after all the Farakka gates were opened. As a result, the low-lying areas of Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia and Chapainababganj have gone under floodwaters, he added.

Farmers of 10 districts have lost their crops in floodwaters.

UNB adds: 18 chars in three unions of Lalpur upazila in Natore district were submerged as Padma River continued to swell, causing immense sufferings to the residents of the areas.

Farmers in the affected areas are counting losses as their sugarcane field and crop land were inundated.

Ummul Banin Duti, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said three shelter homes were opened and the flood victims were asked to move there.

The local administration said 500 flood-affected families in Lalpur union received 15kg rice each as relief. AL Asad, assistant engineer of Natore Water Development Board, said the water level of Padma will continue to rise till October 5.

The flood situation in Lalpur upazila has been worsening for the last several days following the rise of Padma water level.

Flood inundates 16,000 hectares of croplands

Over 16,000 hectares of crops in eight districts have been damaged by floods in the countrys north-northwestern region. A total of 18 chars in Natores Lalpur upazila were also submerged as river Padma continued to swell. According to the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC), the situation may deteriorate further in nine districts, as the waters of the Ganges, Padma, Gorai and the Meghna are flowing above their danger levels at four points. Thousands of people have been marooned in Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainababganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Kushtia, Magura, Rajbari, Faridpur, Munshiganj and Manikganj districts. To make matters worse, river erosion has increased in Shariatpur, Rajbari, Munshiganj and Chapainababganj districts. Ferry movement on the Shimulia-Kathalbari and Paturia-Daulatdia routes has been severely hampered due to strong currents of the mighty Padma. The floodwaters have submerged 12,279 hectares of mashkalai (lentil), 1,710 hectares of vegetables, 1,181 hectares of trans-planted Amon paddy, 157 hectares of spices, 25 hectares of nuts, 783 hectares of fruit gardens and 96 hectares of sugarcane in Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainababganj, Sirajganj, Pabna, Kushtia, Rajbari and Manikganj districts, Mizanur Rahman, deputy director (monitoring) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told The Independent yesterday (Thursday). A total of 16,231 hectares of crops have been submerged in floodwaters as of Wednesday. We are yet to get details of the damage as new areas are being flooded everyday. So, the damage could be much more, he said. Field-level DAE officials are analysing the damage to crops and sending reports to the headquarters everyday, he added. The flood situation in the low-lying areas of Pabna, Kushtia, Magura, Rajbari, Manikganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Munshiganj districts will further deteriorate. But the Ganges and Padma may remain steady in the next 24 hours, Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, FFWC executive engineer, told this correspondent. He said the Ganges is flowing eight centimetres above the danger level at the Hardinge Bridge point, the Padma 13cm at the Goalundo point, Gorai 25cm at the Kamarkhali point and the Meghna 10cm above the danger mark at the Chandpur point. Ferry movement has been hampered due to strong currents, and ghats 1 and 2 have been closed, Abu Abdullah Rony, terminal manger (commercial) of the BIWTC at the Daulatdia ferry terminal, told this correspondent. River erosion has taken a serious turn in terminal areas due to strong currents. The Bangladesh Water Development Board is working to prevent erosion in terminal areas, he said. Flood-affected people have alleged that they are yet to get any relief from the local administration of Rajbari, though they remain marooned for almost a week. The Rajbari district Deputy Commissioner, Dilshad Begum, said at least 4,000 families have been marooned in the district. We are preparing a list of flood-affected people. GR rice will be distributed among them after the list is completed. Besides, enough dry food has been stocked, she said in reply to a query. WDB officials are working to protect educational institutions and other structures from erosion, she added. At least nine government primary schools in Rajbari district have already been closed due to floodwaters. Pabna WDB executive engineer KM Jahurul Huq said the water level at the Hardinge Bridge point has been increasing after all the Farakka gates were opened. As a result, the low-lying areas of Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia and Chapainababganj have gone under floodwaters, he added. Farmers of 10 districts have lost their crops in floodwaters. UNB adds: 18 chars in three unions of Lalpur upazila in Natore district were submerged as Padma River continued to swell, causing immense sufferings to the residents of the areas. Farmers in the affected areas are counting losses as their sugarcane field and crop land were inundated. Ummul Banin Duti, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), said three shelter homes were opened and the flood victims were asked to move there. The local administration said 500 flood-affected families in Lalpur union received 15kg rice each as relief. AL Asad, assistant engineer of Natore Water Development Board, said the water level of Padma will continue to rise till October 5. The flood situation in Lalpur upazila has been worsening for the last several days following the rise of Padma water level.